compromise on a keyboard? (double post)

[Pianoquake]

Suppose you had a 3 year old who was quite musical (can identify works, etc..), but you had no access to a piano --

Would you:--

a) wait a year until you had access to both?
b) buy him a decent keyboard?

I hear both sides, those claiming you have to start early and not stifle musical development, vs. those who argue you'll ruin the child's fingers and hearing forever if you give him/her anything but a real piano.

What do you think?

[kaff]

I think you're confusing early musical education with early instrumental education.  I'm all for teaching very young children about music, but I don't think there's any need to rush into an instrument at this age.  There's loads you can do with a three year old to develop thier musical education - singing, listening to music and talking about it, playing percussion, dancing in different ways depending on the beat/speed.  All of that will develop their musical sense.  I don't think a year's delay in providing either a piano or a keyboard will make any difference.


kathryn